The study find that Eastern Europeans are far more likely to be in work than Britons

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However, many EU migrants are undercutting British workers by working for low pay

Statistics compiled by independent Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) paint a divided picture about the benefits of mass EU migration to the UK.

They show that migrants from the continent are more likely to be employed than British nationals, but that they are mostly filling low-skilled, low paid jobs.

In total 75 per cent of European migrants are in work - a figure which rises to 83 per cent for Eastern Europeans, compared to just 74 per cent of Britons.

As a result EU nationals claim less in unemployment benefits, like Jobseekers Allowance, than British people.

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The figures will further fuel claims for a Brexit

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Britain pays out more than half a million pounds a year in migrant benefits

Our analysis paints a mixed picture of the impacts of EU migration on the UK

Research Fellow Marley Morris

However, they are claiming more cash in tex credits and child benefit than UK nationals which is acting as a significant drain on the public purse.

The claims for child benefits are especially controversial, as many migrants send the cash straight back to children who are still living in their home country.

At the same time many are paying lower rates of tax than Britons because they are undercutting wages to take low paid jobs.

On average EU migrants earn £3 per hour less than British employees, working in low skilled sectors such as food processing and machinery operation.

They are also as likely as British-born people to live in social housing, although the researchers add that a higher proportion are privately renting.

Research Fellow Marley Morris said: “Our new analysis of the data on employment, welfare and housing paints a mixed picture of the impacts of EU migration on the UK.

"A large majority of EU migrants are in work and so are paying taxes rather than living off out-of-work benefits, but they are also more likely to be claiming in-work benefits than others in the workforce.

“Many Eastern Europeans, despite their qualifications, are working in low skilled sectors at low pay rates, which may be helping to plug some labour shortages but might also be sustaining low wages and poor conditions in some workplaces.

“Our analysis also suggests that EU migrants are more likely than others to live in the private rented sector, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t able to access scarce social housing. In fact their likelihood of living in social housing is about the same as the general population.”